OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Pismo Beach, CA 93449

Pismo Beach: median income $118,072, home value $1,021,300, $777/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Solvang, CA 93463 92%45$118,488$1,114,500$639 pricier homes ($93K more)
Novato, CA 94949 81%226$120,758$1,150,500$576 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger · younger residents
Morro Bay, CA 93442 79%19$95,623$918,700$629 cheaper homes ($103K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Westlake Village, CA 91361 78%125$144,900$1,433,300$676 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($412K more) · larger
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 78%152$151,250$1,136,400$649 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($115K more) · larger
Carbondale, CO 81623 77%791$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · younger residents
Carpinteria, CA 93013 77%83$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger · younger residents
Spring Lake, NJ 07762 76%2,544$116,295$927,700$705 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Ocean City, NJ 08226 76%2,523$101,782$840,500$816 cheaper homes ($181K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Edmonds, WA 98020 76%878$130,319$1,031,500$625 larger · older homes
Calistoga, CA 94515 75%260$94,464$824,900$797 cheaper homes ($196K less) · younger residents
Novato, CA 94945 75%230$107,790$1,124,100$560 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · younger residents
Sonoma, CA 95476 75%238$105,374$896,900$609 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
San Rafael, CA 94903 74%226$142,083$1,197,300$722 pricier homes ($176K more) · larger · younger residents
Novato, CA 94947 74%230$128,766$1,017,600$602 larger · younger residents · older homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95409 74%253$107,867$802,000$445 cheaper homes ($219K less) · larger
Ketchum, ID 83340 73%673$93,556$958,600$1,047 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85258 73%511$114,111$846,000$462 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 73%11$110,553$917,900$572 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · younger residents
Soquel, CA 95073 73%147$118,169$1,062,800$699 pricier homes ($42K more) · younger residents
Delray Beach, FL 33483 72%2,465$116,115$866,800$708 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · older residents
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 72%123$139,800$1,116,500$566 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · younger residents
Los Osos, CA 93402 72%15$109,090$806,800$643 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger · younger residents
Healdsburg, CA 95448 72%268$105,120$1,048,300$701 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
Aptos, CA 95003 71%144$148,412$1,198,700$764 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($177K more) · larger

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.

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